DRIFTERS are in pole position in the men’s second division standings and are strong contenders for a place in the top flight next year.
Last Friday at Victoria Gymnasium, Anse Boileau-based Drifters collected a 79-63 win over Anse Etoile to stay unbeaten and bring to seven their number of wins at the end of the first round of the two-round championship.
With players like Arnaud Arissol, Frank Seth, Ervin Agathine, Henry Agathine and Trevor Toussaint in their ranks, the team coached by Denis Dodin boast a maximum 14 points.
“Nothing will stop us if we continue on this same momentum,” coach Dodin told Sports Nation.
“We need to stay focused to achieve our goal of playing first division basketball next year,” he added.
Anse Etoile are second with 11 points after four wins and three defeats, while Pointe Larue, who have two matches in hand, are on nine points.
Juniors (8), Beau Vallon Heat (8), LMS Youth (7), Praslin Warriors (7) and AAP Brothers (6) occupy the remaining positions in the eight-team standings.
Although their name still appears in the standings, LMS Youth have been kicked out of the competition after missing two matches.
In the men’s top league, Premium Cobras, with inspirational Nigerian playmaker Michael Ohiero, are unbeaten in seven games for 14 points.
Baya and PLS Hawks are locked on 13 points after they both lost to former champions Cobras. The two teams will meet on Sunday in what promises to be an interesting encounter, and one of them will suffer a second defeat, which will surely put their league ambition in tatters.
MBU Rockers’ 86-65 win over Cascade Bullets was their fifth in seven games and they are fourth on the 10-team table with 12 points.
Having the same win-lose record of 3-5 in eight games for 11 points, the Bullets and Angels are in fourth and fifth places.
RC Dynamics and Mont Fleuri Dawgz are also locked on points –10 – after they each collected three victories in seven games.
Winless in seven outings, Razors and RA Herons look like heading back to the bottom division next season if their fortunes do not change for the better.
Mont Fleuri head the women’s standings with nine points from four wins and a defeat in five games.
Unbeaten in four games, former champions Anse Etoile Stars are hot on their heels with eight points, while outgoing champions HotShots have five after two wins and a loss.
Stars and HotShots will clash on Sunday.
In the event of the Stars winning, they will end the first round unbeaten, putting them in the right frame of mind to reclaim the title. But if HotShots do beat the Stars, it will mean that the three big guns would each have a defeat to their name.
Juniors (five points), RA Sisters (three) and Cadettes (three) occupy the other three places in the standings.
G. G.